Impact (1949)

In San Francisco, successful self-made businessman Walter Williams has just bought three factories in Denver with the approval of the board of directors. His wife Irene tells him that she is not feeling well enough to travel with him and asks him to give a lift to her cousin Jim Torrence. On the highway, Jim--who is actually Irene's lover--tries to kill Walter, hitting his head and throwing him off a cliff, and has a fatal fiery accident while escaping driving Walter's car. Walter is believed to be the driver and later his wife is sent to jail accused of plotting his murder. Meanwhile, the wounded Walter falls asleep in a moving van and eventually winds up in Larkspur, a small town in Idaho. He is hired as a mechanic in a gas station by the owner, Marsha Peters. For three months Walter reads the news, expecting revenge with Irene sentenced to death, and he and Marsha fall in love with each other. When Walter discloses the truth to Marsha, she convinces him to return to San Francisco and save his unfaithful wife. The situation changes when Irene accuses him of plotting to kill her lover Jim, and Walter must prove his innocence.